Now to Germany, where a giant bronze statue of Karl Marx has been unveiled in his hometown Trier. The statue was donated by China to mark the 200th birthday of the philosopher and historian. Exhibitions, concerts and other events were also held in Trier to commemorate the influential thinker. Xi Jia reports.

Trier, one of Germany's oldest cities, is holding a series of events to celebrate the 200th birthday of its most famous son, Karl Marx. These include permanent exhibitions, symposiums, book-reading events and even concerts.

On Saturday, a statue created by the world-renowned Chinese sculptor and curator of the National Art Museum of China, Wu Weishan, was presented to the city of Trier as a gift by China. The statue is made of bronze and its 4.6-meter-high body and 0.9 meter-high base weigh approximately 2.3 tons.

The statue has adopted abstract sculpture techniques from modern China and integrated them with the European tradition of realism to depict Marx taking a walk. He travels from Trier to the rest of the world, and from history to the future with a firm pace and confidence deep in his eyes. The statue presents the demeanor of this great figure artistically, and implies his extraordinary life through a polygonal base.

WU WEISHAN SCULPTOR & NATIONAL ART MUSEUM OF CHINA CURATOR "I have used my sculpture art to shape the soul of a philosopher. It has been highly spoken of by the people from his hometown as well as from Germany. All this is a great comfort for me."

Trier also opened a state exhibition named Karl Marx 1818-1883. LIFE, WORKS and TIME, which will run until October 21st this year. Who was Marx? What drove him and inspired his work? What else can we learn from him today? These and many other questions are examined by the exhibition, which covers different topics at two locations. Museums and collections throughout Europe are also staging several hundred other exhibits. Paintings, graphics and historical exhibits, including original documents, give impressive access to living and working conditions in the 19th century. They also help visitors immerse themselves in the life of Karl Marx.

Meanwhile, the house where Karl Marx grew up before going to college has reopened after a major renovation. It now features a new permanent exhibition, in which traffic lights showing the portrait of the German communist philosopher have been installed. Many other souvenirs have been designed to celebrate Marx's 200th birthday.

XI JIA TRIER, GERMANY "Karl Marx began his life in this German town of Trier. He went on to create theories that pushed forward 'liberation and free and well-rounded development of humanity'. As these theories evolve even further in today's context, Marxism will continue to lighten the way of many across the world. Xi Jia, Trier, Germany."